London: In honour of His Majesty Sultan Haitham bin Tarik, banquet was hosted at the Guildhall of the Lord Mayor of the City of London on Thursday, within the framework of the state visit undertaken by His Majesty the Sultan to the United Kingdom (UK).
Upon the arrival of the Royal motorcade of His Majesty the Sultan, he was received by Susan Langley, Lady Mayor of the City of London; Gary Langley, husband of the Lady Mayor; His Royal Highness Prince Richard, Duke of Gloucester and officials, who welcomed His Majesty the Sultan, expressing their profound delight and great honour at this visit.
The Lady Mayor then presented a number of senior officials of the City of London to His Majesty the Sultan, after which His Majesty ascended the dais of honour, where the Guard of Honour rendered the royal salute and the Royal Anthem of Oman was played. His Majesty then graciously inspected the Guard of Honour, drawn up in salute to His Majesty, and a commemorative photograph was taken on the dais to mark the occasion.
His Majesty the Sultan then proceeded to the Art Gallery Hall, accompanied by the Lady Mayor, members of the British Royal Family and the official delegation accompanying His Majesty, where a reception was held to mark the occasion, and the High Commissioners and Ambassadors resident in London came forward to shake hands with His Majesty the Sultan.
His Majesty the Sultan also graciously signed the visitors' book.
At the outset of the dinner, the Recorder of the City of London delivered a welcoming address on the occasion of the gracious visit of His Majesty the Sultan, in which he expressed his pride in the occasion.
Following the conclusion of the banquet, the Lady Mayor of the City of London delivered an address in which she renewed her welcome to His Majesty the Sultan. The text of the address reads as follows:
"Your Majesty, Your Royal Highnesses, Your Excellencies, My Lords, Aldermen, Sheriffs, Chief Commoner, Honoured Guests…
Your Majesty,
On behalf of the entire City of London Corporation, it is my enormous pleasure to welcome you, and members of the Omani Royal Family and other distinguished delegates to the City of London tonight.
We are so delighted to present you with an Address of Welcome, contained here in this case, which I hope you will accept as a sincere expression of the deep and enduring friendship between our nations.
This magnificent Guildhall, where we sit tonight, has been at the very heart of the City for more than 600 years. Within these ancient stone walls, history has been made, friendships forged, and momentous occasions celebrated. Including, of course, the banquet held here in honour of His late Majesty Sultan Qaboos. And so it is a very special privilege to add another chapter to that remarkable history tonight.
At first glance, the United Kingdom and Oman might seem worlds apart. One, a land of green meadows, ancient forests, and mist-covered mountains. The other, a land of sweeping golden deserts, dramatic cliffs, and breathtaking coastlines.
And yet, look beyond the geography, and something extraordinary emerges. Two nations, yes, separated by distance, but united by history and by a friendship that has endured for centuries. We are both outward-looking.
We understand that the freedom of the seas, the security of trade routes, and global stability are the very foundations upon which prosperity and peace are built. But our connections extend well beyond this - through education, culture, science, and the countless friendships formed between us, we have built something far more powerful than any agreement. Trust.
For ultimately, it is not treaties alone that sustain great friendships. It is people. Shared experiences. And the understanding that we have more that unites us than divides us.
Our diplomatic relationship stretches back to 1646. Lord Nelson himself travelled to Muscat as a young midshipman. And the name of his ship, HMS Seahorse, was visible on the cliffs around Muscat Harbour for many years.
It’s fitting, then, that we should sit here tonight, on Trafalgar Day, in the shadow of a monument to Nelson. A wonderful reminder that the threads connecting our people run deep. But the threads of our shared history must also weave the future we build together. Because nations, like cities, never thrive by standing still. They thrive by adapting, innovating, and having the courage to look forward. And this is reflected in this year’s landmark free trade agreement between the UK and the Gulf, opening doors to new markets and partnerships.
The remarkable number of British and Omani businesses represented here tonight is itself a testament to the strength of our economic ties. The United Kingdom accounts for more than half of foreign direct investment into Oman. And the opportunities ahead are greater still. The UK-Oman Sovereign Investment Partnership is helping channel investment in both directions.
And I am particularly delighted that the Oman Investment Authority has recognised the extraordinary potential of British innovation, investing in university spinouts at the frontiers of artificial intelligence and robotics through Cambridge Innovation Capital and Oxford Science Enterprises - both here tonight. It’s turning ideas into industries. Research into discovery. And the ambitions of one generation into opportunities for the next.
So here in the City of London, Your Majesty, we stand ready to play our part. To bring together expertise and investment, connect innovators with opportunity, and ensure that the prosperity we create is shared by both our nations…more important now than ever.
Not simply a place to do business, but a partner you can depend on. A friendship sustained not only by governments and institutions, but by the thousands of Omanis who live, work, and study here.
People who enrich our communities, strengthen our institutions, and whom we are so proud to call part of our City of London family.
Your Majesty, more than two centuries ago a treaty between our nations expressed the extraordinary hope that: “The friendship of our two States may remain till the sun and moon have finished their revolving career.” Remarkable words. Written in another century, by people who could scarcely have imagined the changes that lay ahead.
And tonight, within the walls of this ancient hall, we celebrate not simply what has been, but what is still to come. Because the greatest friendships are not those that never face adversity. They are those that hold true through it, grow stronger because of it, and step forward ready to face the future hand-in-hand."
The text of the address was then presented to His Majesty the Sultan within an ornate casket, offered as a commemorative gift in accordance with the traditions of the City of London.
The Royal Anthem of Oman was then played, after which His Majesty the Sultan graciously delivered an address on this occasion, the text of which follows:
“Lady Mayor,
Excellencies,
dear friends,
I would like to express my sincere gratitude to the Lady Mayor for this gracious invitation, which reflects the esteem in which my country is held, and the openness of the City of London to the wider world, and its commitment to strengthening the bridges of communication and trust among nations of the world.
Each time I visit London, I am reminded of why it attracts bright minds and innovators. As one famous predecessor of the Lady Mayor put it, it really does feel that the streets are paved with gold.
London is not merely a political capital, nor is it simply a global financial centre. It is a vibrant hub where ideas are exchanged and innovation flourishes across many fields of human achievements, above all, trade and investment, where expertise, cultures and human aspirations come together. A city's true value lies in the ideas it inspires, the strategies it shapes, and the relationships it fosters, all of which can leave a lasting mark on the world.
Our gathering today has provided us with a new opportunity to develop further, our shared vision for British Omani friendship, both in terms of political engagement and private sector cooperation.
We can see that bilateral investment and trade are moving in a positive direction, with concrete efforts being made to encourage investment and build stronger partnerships in sectors such as sustainability, financial services, and technology.
Markets can prosper only in a stable environment; businesses can grow only when supported by transparent and flexible legislation; and investment opportunities can flourish only when underpinned by clear, well-defined and promising plans and projects. In light of these important considerations, Oman stands ready to welcome all those who wish to join us on this journey.
Looking back, much attention is rightly paid to the historic treaties of 1798 and 1800, which marked an important stage in government to government relations between Oman and Britain. But the roots of this relationship stretch back even further, to an agreement concluded as early as 1647, long before formal agreements were signed between the two governments. This early agreement was not with the British government but with the merchants of this City of London, namely the British East India Company. It granted the British East India Company a favourable trading privileges and access to Omani governed ports. Not for the last time, the private sector got there first.
These historic agreements reflect a much deeper connection rooted in the shared heritage as seafarers and traders, a legacy that has brought lasting benefits to the peoples of Oman and Britain and continues to do so today, as thriving trade ties and the strength of private enterprise testify to the enduring value of this relationship.
Building on this longstanding relationship, the UK GCC Free Trade Agreement will unlock new opportunities for trade and investment, as the exchange of goods is expected to increase, creating further opportunities for economic growth in the years ahead.
Lady Mayor,
From the East India Company’s first treaty, to Oman investments in London real estate, to British consultancy in smart cities and economic zones, our ancestors have long collaborated to bring together enterprise, expertise, and ambition.
And, as I join you here today, I have no doubt that our collaboration will continue to blossom for many more generations to come.
Lady Mayor, dear friends, thank you for your hospitality.”
The ceremonies of the dinner concluded with an address of thanks delivered by the Lady Mayor of the City of London, in which she expressed her profound gratitude for the honour of His Majesty's visit to the City of London.
The dinner was attended by their highnesses, their excellencies and their honours, members of the official delegation accompanying His Majesty the Sultan, together with senior officials and prominent British figures and the ambassadors resident in London.
Oman Observer is now on the WhatsApp channel. Click here
